AUSTRALIA: Compulsion Suspended

There were not enough chairs so some of the Cabinet sat on camp stools.
They had met in the plain, business-like office of Australia's new
Labor Prime Minister, quiet; vigorous James Henry Scullin (TIME, Nov.
5). After a long, tense session last week they jolted all Australia by
announcing suspension of compulsory military training.

First English-speaking Commonwealth to adopt compulsory military
training was Australia. Australian conscription began at the time of the
Japanese war scare of 1911 under the Labor Government of Andrew
Fisher.